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Kathleen Cooney's avatar

I appreciate these posts, and I agree that it could be challenging to scale up the best parts of the psychedelic movement to the point where it becomes an antidote to the MAGA cult. It makes sense that an initial target audience for the psychedelic movement is (often burned-out) leaders in helping professions—so they can be rejuvenated and better equipped to facilitate healing and/or the growth of good cults. I’m definitely getting psychedelic-curious myself, though perhaps for later in life.

I'm interested in learning more about good cults that are thriving, or could thrive, on a larger scale in today’s climate, and what the features of these are. I'm actually not sure if I can think of a good example, since so many good cults I know are struggling these days!

I wonder what structural or cultural changes are needed to support larger-scale 'good cults,' and if the current moment—with its crises and opportunities—might create fertile ground for new kinds of 'good cults' to emerge.

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I also realize that I probably need a more intellectually stimulating day job.. Lol Working on it!

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Molly Baskette's avatar

Girl, I wonder these things too! As someone who has been working on trying to scale up non-toxic cults for decades now...and you're right (per your comment below), many of our church camps and sweet churches are dying on the vine. It's heartbreaking.

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Kathleen Cooney's avatar

Addendum: Of course I do know of a Real Good Cult and a book about Real Good Cults :)

More thinking of the big picture given religious and institutional decline, the potential scale of the MAGA cult, and ways that its virus infects culture, personality, policy, etc. The question is probably too abstract to engage meaningfully here. Just want more people at various developmental phases to have access to good cults, and these cults seem to be on the decline.

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The Exchange's avatar

Any ideas for exploring how people can deeply connect with one another and the world are worth exploring. Not sure how to scale up psilocybin for the public at large, and keep it safe and guided, all the good stuff.

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Molly Baskette's avatar

it may just find its viral moment, or reach a tipping point! Where it feels reasonable, safe, mainstream--and legal. There are lots of folks arguing against legality for psilocybin btw --not bc they're scared of it, but bc they're afraid of how it will get medicalized, commodified, and price lots of people out of being able to benefit from it in a therapeutic setting.

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